Published on:
11
March 2004
A team of full time PE specialists is set to be appointed to deliver 1.5 hours of physical activity, PE and Sport to every primary school pupil each week - a commitment not seen since the 1970s.
Now children will have more than a sporting chance to take part in a wide range of PE activities which could lead to improvements in health and well being overall.
The commitment to appoint a team of specialists has been shaped by recommendations from the Scottish Executive's 'Lets Get Scotland More Active' and other statistics which highlight the poor health of school aged children. Obesity levels and risks of major health related diseases are currently running at their highest levels.
Councillor Brian Fearon, Convener of the Learning and Leisure Committee said: "This new initiative represents a real commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of many local children. At the moment only 40% of pupils in Clackmannanshire have contact with a PE specialist for thirty minutes per fortnight. Nationally this is by no means a poor provision as some local authorities have none.
"As a result of the McCrone Agreement we now have a fantastic opportunity to dramatically increase our current PE provision in our primary schools. Part of the agreement was to reduce the teachers' class contact time. Following discussions with primary headteachers and class teachers we came up with an innovative solution to manage this with an overall agreement to improve PE provision by appointing a team of PE Specialists."
At the moment there is one PE specialist delivering a programme in eight out of a total nineteen primary schools. By August there will be a team of ten PE specialists.
Sandy Wilson, Head of Education and Lifelong Learning said: "The benefits of involving children in physical activity, PE and Sport go beyond the acquisition of skill and improved fitness. Children's gains in confidence and self esteem will also lead to improved learning. Research also supports the view that an increase in the level of physical activity can also benefit behaviour."
Sportscotland recommend children should receive quality PE two hours per week and advise that children participate in accumulative physical activity one hour per day - every day of the week.
The new PE Programme will get underway in August 2004 and could include:·P1,2,3 - co-ordination and movement activities·P4/5 - sport specific skills in team games, swimming, racket·P6/7 - progression to use new skills in festivals, competitions and outdoor activities.
Scotland's Physical Activity Co-ordinator, Mary Allison, said: "Inactivity in Scotland constitutes one of our most serious public health issues - with almost half of our children inactive and currently putting their health at risk.
"I welcome the excellent work being done in Clackmannanshire to increase the provision of quality PE to children in schools, in line with the recommendations of the Scottish Executive's Physical Activity Strategy. Physical activity is key to a child's development of ability, health and confidence and this initiative will provide children with greater opportunities to be active during the school day."
The new team of teachers will be part of an evolving group of specialists who will help shape the Expressive Arts team in Clackmannanshire. The search has started to find energetic, enthusiastic people who can motivate youngsters and help them to enjoy the fun in being physically active. There will be secondment opportunities for existing primary school staff along with job share and part time posts.